Spray finishing-machine.



T. R. WILLWERSCHEID.

SPRAY IINISHlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I9, I9I7.

Patented. Apr. 30, 1918. n

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SPRAY FINISHXNGrMACIl-HNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3d, 121% Application led November 19, 1917. Serial No. 202,692.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, Tnrooorn R. WILL- WERSCHEID, a citizen of the United States, residing in St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful improvements in Spray Finishing-Machines, of which the 'following is a specification.

rllhe ordinary method of applying finish The object of my invention is to providel an economical, sanitary and labor-saving machine for applying such atomized finishing materials.

More specifically, it is my object to pro-I duce a machine of this class embodying me- .chanical feeding apparatus capable of highly elicient operation by unskilled labor, whereby a uniform coating of inishing material may be quickly and automatically applied to manufactured products.l lt is further my object to protect operators and plant by confining and expelling harmful vapors and gases arising from the sprayed finishing material, thereby eliminating danger of explosion, as well' as providing l more sanitary working conditions .for employees.

lln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation, partly 'in section, of my machine; Fig. 2 is a central transverse section on the line'2-2 of lFig 1; and lFig.` 3 is an elevation taken from the feeding lend of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my machine consistsprimarily of a housing A, a .conveyor B passing therethrough, paint spraying means C, and a fume removing conduit D for said housing.

rlhe housing A comprises inclosinof walls 10 having a top 11 thereon, and a oor 12 in one of the walls to provide access to the interior of the housing.

Said conveyer 1B consists of an endless I ychain 13 composed of links 14 having dat ears 15 projecting laterally from the side of the chain and forming bearing surfaces for objects 1G to be carried on the horizontal section of the conveyer through the housing A, which is arranged midway of the chain. Both the upper and lower runs of said chain pass through said housing, openings 1'( and 18 being formed in opposite walls of the housing to provide a passageway for the chain and objects thereon. Said chain passes'over sprocket wheels 19 (only one shown) revolubly mounted in bearing supports 20 arranged atv opposite sides of the housing A, and power 1s applied to either of said sprocket wheels to revolve the chain 13.

A sprayer 21 is suspended over the upper run of the conveyer B within the housing by abracket 22 secured to the Wall 10, and

said sprayer issupplied with finishing fluid and compressedair through the tubing 23 and pipe 24 respectively. Said tubing corinects with a container or reservoir 25 for paint, varnish, or the like, elevated above the sprayer 21 and preferably placed on the exterior of the housing. The air pipe v24g transmits compressed air from an alr compressor (not shown) to said sprayer 21, and a branch air pipe 26 connects with said air pipe 24 and terminates on the exterior of. the housing immediately above the 1ncoming chain 1.3. A small orifice 27 1s formed in the endof this pipe and-a blast of air is thus directed upon the objects 16 before their entrance to the housing A to remove'dust and dirt therefrom.

A sheet-metal fume expelling conduit vD occupies the lower part of the housing between the u per and lower runs of the conveyer B an receives any surplus of the jet of nishing material which may not adhere to the object being coated. Beneath the upper run of said conveyer chain and on the outside of the housin ll provide tables 31 and 32; over which t e conveyer chain 13 travels in entering and passin from the housing A, respectively, and t e table 31 on the feeding end of the conveyor is further supplied with a vertical abutment or iange 33 parallel to the chain.13. These tables 3l and 32 support the vupper run of the chain 13 and prevent its dragging against the housing walls 10, while the abutment 33 facilitates the placing of objects 16 upon the conveyer. Trays 34 may, if desired, be placed beneath the lower run of the chain 13 to catch possible excess finishing material dropping from the conveyer B.

In use, suction is produced in the funnels 28 and 29 by means of an exhaust fan (not shown). Power is applied to one of the sprocket wheels 19 tol drive the conveyer chain 13. The products of manufacture, which are to be coated, are. placed on the conveyer chain 13 as it passes over the table 3l. The guard or abutment 33 prevents such products from slipping off the back side of the lconveyer and thus enables the operator to place objects on the chain with greater despatch. Such products are conveyed into the housing A and pass beneath the sprayer 21. Paint, varnish, or other finishing material, is fed to said sprayer from the container 25 via the tubing 23 and compressed airis also supplied to the said sprayer 21 through the pipe 24 and operates to project a fan-shaped jet of atomized fluid downward and distribute the same evenly over the objects on the conveyer. No specific type of sprayer 2l isclaimed, as any of the commercially well-known types may be used. Compressed air also escapes through the orifice 27 in the pipe 26 and blows dust and dirt from the objects 16 prior to their admission to the housing. After passing beneath the sprayer 21 and receiving a coating of finishing material, the objects pass out of the housing over the table 32 and an attendant removes them from the machine. The suction previously set up in the funnels 28 and 29 exhausts the fumes and vapors of turpentine, and other volatile elements of the finishing material, from the housing and eliminates danger of explosions, as well as provides a healthful and sanitary atmosphere for the attendants.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my devicp, but I do' not limit myself to the specific de ails of construction herein set forth, nor to any particular form of obiect to be coated, as itis obvious that Various housing.

modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, 'what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a closed housing, a spraying device therein, a conveyer passing through said housing and adapted to convey objects beneath said spraying device, a loading table at one side of said housing over which said chain passes, an abutment on said table parallel to said chain, and an exhaust conduit for said housing.

2. In a machine of the class described, a closed housing, an endless, horizontally-disposed conveyer chain passing through said housing, a spraying device in said housing above said conveyer chain, and an exhaust conduit communicating with said housing, the end of said conduit being bifurcated and projecting Within said housing to form diverging funnels lying upon each side of said spraying device and terminating adjacent said conveyer chain.

3. In a machine of the class described, a stationary spraying device, a housing surrounding said spraying device, a door for said housing, an endless, horizontal conveyer chain passing through said housing and heneath said spraying device, an-air nozzle on the exterior of said housing above said conveyer chain, said air nozzle being adapted to blow dust from articles on said conveyer chain before their admittance to saidl housing, and means for exhausting volatile matter suspended in the air in said housing.

4. In a machine of the class described, a housing having openings in the walls thereof, a power driven conveyer chain passing through said openings, sprocket wheels Without said housing for said chain, supports for said sprocket wheels, supporting -tables for said chain at opposite sides of the housing, a spraying device within said housing, means to supply finishing matel rial and compressed air to said spraying de.

vice, and a fume exhaust conduit for said Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification.

. `vTarieven a. WILLWERSCHEID. 

